On the night of the 2025 NBA Draft, the Portland Trail Blazers drafted Cedric Coward with the 11th overall pick, only to subsequently trade him to the Memphis Grizzlies. Now, Coward's strong play has to be making Portland feel like they made a mistake.
The Blazers of course ended up with Yang Hansen instead. While it's still far too early to make determinations on Hansen's career in the long-term, the early returns haven't been the most promising. Meanwhile, Coward has been positively dominating with the Grizzlies.
Portland is still very much in an evaluation phase, trying to determine which pieces truly fit in the long-term as they wait for Damian Lillard to eventually return. Development minutes have been prioritized over immediate results, which is understandable for a team still near the bottom of the Western Conference. But watching a player they drafted thrive elsewhere inevitably raises questions about process and projection.
Cedric Coward has been putting on a show in Memphis
Hansen was always going to be a longer-term bet. Portland viewed him as a developmental big with upside rather than a plug-and-play contributor. The issue so far has been how raw that package looks at the NBA level. Physicality and pace have been works in progress, and those limitations have made it difficult for him to stay on the floor consistently. For a team already struggling to establish stability, the learning curve has been noticeable.
Coward, meanwhile, walked into a situation in Memphis that allowed his strengths to translate immediately. His physicality and confidence have stood out, and he looks far more comfortable playing NBA basketball right now than many expected. The gap in readiness is what makes this feel like a missed evaluation. Portland could have used a player capable of contributing early while still fitting a long-term timeline.
The frustration is not just about Coward outperforming Hansen, it's about what Coward represents. Portland has spent years searching for wings who can impact games without needing everything built around them. Those players are rare, and when one shows signs of being NBA-ready right away, it's hard not to wonder if patience crossed into overthinking.
This doesn't mean Hansen is a lost cause. Big men often take longer to adjust, and Portland is still committed to development. But as Coward continues to shine, the Blazers are being reminded that upside and readiness don't always have to be mutually exclusive.